Hotel Review: Hotel Santo Toribio in Cartagena, Colombia

Rates from 419,600 Colombian pesos, with tax, or $218 at 1,925 pesos to the dollar.

Basics

Cartagena, on Colombia’s northern coast, has recently undergone an expansion of hotel building, with more towering international chains to come in the popular Bocagrande area. But staying just inland, inside the charming 16th-century walled part of the city, a Unesco World Heritage site, offers less generic options. Most of the new hotels there, like the Santo Toribio, are boutique, refurbished from historic properties. The three-story Santo Toribio, opened in November 2012, is built around an airy courtyard, in a colonial building updated with modern touches, like a vertical garden wall just past the reception desk. Designed in tropical hardwood and tile, the hotel has the feel of a breezy hacienda.

Location

Across from a small park and just blocks from attractions like the Cathedral of Cartagena and the city’s museums, palace and fortresses, the Santo Toribio is near some of the prettiest streets in the walled city, redolent of bougainvillea and dotted with vendors selling fruit and snacks. It’s a short walk from the main gates of the old city, and an even shorter one to the walls that separate it from the Caribbean coast — perfect for a sunset stroll. Lively restaurants, juice bars and jewelry shops surround it; historically a middle class neighborhood, the old town retains a bustling, residential feel.

The Room

Each of the eight rooms is named and decorated for a local notable or theme. Our room, the Don Simon, a tribute to Simón Bolívar, had light wood furniture, a double bed and a black-and-white photo of nearby Plaza de Bolívar. A ceiling fan and a powerful air-conditioner provided welcome relief from Cartagena’s humidity. The major downside: On the ground floor in the back of the building, it had only a rear window that let in virtually no natural light. A small balcony overlooked the courtyard, which meant no privacy if the shutters were open. Ask for a room on an upper floor, where balconies have rooftop views.

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One of the hotel's eight rooms.CreditHotel Santo Toribio

The Bathroom

Marble-tiled and reasonably sized, with a single deep-bowled sink and a glass-doored shower. Basic toiletries, a robe and a hairdryer were provided.

Amenities

The hotel has a small indoor plunge pool and an inviting roof deck with a Jacuzzi, sun-shaded, pillow-studded banquettes, a grill and a wet bar. The view takes in the city’s tiled roofs, a vibrant red against the blue sky, and the deck’s white walls. A lobby bar is decorated with curvy chairs, black-and-white photos and a colorful chandelier; it was not quite a scene but was a comfortable enough place to recharge. Wi-Fi is free and robust throughout the hotel. Staff members did not speak much English — not uncommon here — but were generally helpful with making reservations and other typical requests.

Dining

A made-to-order breakfast, including fresh fruit and juice, eggs and Colombian specialties like arepas filled with egg or cheese, is included, served at brightly colored tables in the courtyard. There’s no other meal service though you can have restaurants deliver to your room.

Bottom Line

In Cartagena, where the accommodations in and around the walled old city seem to be either luxurious or grungy backpacker, it can be difficult to find an acceptable middle ground. The Hotel Santo Toribio offers many of the same niceties as at higher-end options, but at a more affordable price.